Intro

 

So Mari tagged me to do this, and I am honestly worried about how many friends I'll have after this xD For reference, I am a major girl group stan so most of these songs will be from the ladies of KPop. I also don't appreciate KPop in the 'proper' way, if you would. For a lot of these songs, I haven't actually even seen the video or watched the dance - I just like the song. I listen to music for the music, not for fancy concepts or pretty dances. That said, those things are a part of KPop and I will talk about them if I happen to have noticed them for a particular song. But overall I judge songs based purely on musical merit (and my own biased opinions). With that said, let's get right into it with number 17!

#17 - Yes I Am (Mamamoo)

 

I know, I know. "Oh my god Dani, how could you not put Mamamoo higher than 17?" Honestly I considered putting it in the honorable mentions - I'm just not a huge fan of the song. I love the message and the chorus is catchy as hell, but some of the transitions are awkward to me so I just can't love it as much as their past songs. That said, this song only just came out, and it took me almost a month to fall in love with Delcacomie so there's time for this ranking to change. But as it is now, Yes I Am is at the bottom of the list, despite being an overall good and unoffensive song.

#16 - Mayday (APril)

 

Okay, this is one of those songs I really didn't like at first listen, and now I sing it at least three times a day. It's just so dang catchy! Honestly, Mayday to me is proof that TWICE songs could be good if they were sung in tune. Regardless, I heard Mayday a second time kind of by accident and ended up humming it for the rest of the danged day. And now it's easily earned a spot on this list. The dance is adorable, the harmonies at the end are great, and the song overall is just the cutest thing. The only reason it isn't higher is because it's more a guilty pleasure song, and there really are much better songs out there, including ones that aren't on this list, so I felt bad giving it a higher spot than this.

#15 - Hakuna Matata (walwari)

 

This song is, in my opinion, easily one of the most slept on of the year. It's fun, it's silly, and it just makes you want to get up and jump around chanting along with the chorus! The combination of beatboxing and vocals is a really unique twist as well that I've never seen in a KPop group before and I really look forward to seeing what this group does going forward. Defintely one of the strongest debuts of the year so far.

#14 - Baby (ASTRO)

 

Astro is a group I've kind of had on radar for a while now, but this is their first song that really impressed me. The high energy chorus, the fast-paced but still in sync dance, and that jump at the end all make for a really fun performance. And the song itself is a really nice lighthearted breath of fresh air in a time when it feels like every major boy group is trying to act like angsty teens. They aren't the best singers in the industry though, which is why this song isn't higher. The first person who sings the chorus is just a little too tense for me to get fully immersed without going "uh, dude, you're killing your throat. Maybe don't do that."

#13 - Remember (9Muses)

 

This is a song that I know will probably climb the rankings as it ages, since 9Muses is definitely one of the best groups in the industry right now, if underappreciated by fans. The song is their classic sultry sound and I'm really happy to hear Sojin and Keumjo get more lines. The different voices blend well and the dance is nice, but for some reason this song really never gets stuck in my head. Even as I write this I can't remember what it sounds like, and that's why I really can't justify putting it any higher than this despite how musically stunning it is.

#12 - I Think I love U (Sonamoo)

 

This song has been my cute anthem since it came out - I love it! I know it's cheesy and cutesty and everything girl groups are lauded for being these days, but screw that this song is adorable! When it first came out I had it permanently set to loop on my IPod and even when it wasn't I'd go listen to it several times before letting any other song play. It's upbeat and endearing and the girls look like they're having the time of their lives performing it - what's not to love? However, with time I've calmed down of my obsessing and have found other songs (*cough*Mayday*cough*) that fill a similar position, so it's slipped down the list of ultimate favorite songs, even though it still definitely deserves a place on my list.

#11 - I'll Be Yours (Girl's Day)

 

I know a lot of people were dissapointed with this song. To those people I say: Huh? Why? This song is a classic GsD bop and I honestly could not expect more from it. It's fun, it's catchy, and the dance is y as all get-out. Minah and Sojin sound great as always and Hyemi and Yura look stunning. For me, this is GsD at their finest, and while maybe I wish we didn't have to wait a year for it to come out I'm glad we have it and I really enjoy it. That said, GsD has never been my favorite sound in the industry, which is why this isn't higher on the list.

#10 - Love Is... (Teen TOp)

 

First off I don't know this group. At all. I found the song while hunting for possible songs for SSBC and holy jeez did it impress me. The dance is fantastic, probably the best one on this list if I'm honest, and the song itself just sounds really cool. The main singer has kind of a weird voice, which is why this isn't higher, but it wasn't a deal breaker at all. While less of a fun dance song that the previous entries, this is still high energy and really nice to listen to when you feel like having a nice little moment of angst. Or feel like watching a kickass dance, whichever works.

#9 - Wake Me Up (BAP)

 

See? Angsty songs are a guy group thing now. But anyway, this song is a new interest of mine after hearing part of it in a Youtube video. It's wonderfully powerful and the vocalists mostly know what they're doing. There's still definitely throat tension but it's better than the other two male groups on this list. I will say I looked up the dance and I really wan't very impressed by it, but the song itself is honestly just wonderful so I can't detract points since the song is the important part anyway. And yeah. I like this song. That's about it xD

#8 - HobGoblin (CLC)

 

And now we get into the territory of songs that I will probably love forever, no questions asked. Hobgoblin was one of those rare songs that I adored from the very first listen, which is odd because I was never a big fan of 4MInute (sorry Mari! Hyuna's still super hot). And yet this song likes to hang out in the back of my head and randomly pop up to make me happy during the day. It's a nice badass concept from girls who up to this point had followed the cutesy trends, and I will be singing "Geun nawarawara" for the rest of my life. Well played CLC. Well played.

#7 - A Girl Like Me (Gugudan)

 

This song is my " you I'm awesome" anthem. And really that should be enough to explain it's ranking but let's go into a bit more detail. A Girl Like Me is a switch in concept for Gugudan, and I absolutely love it (though they need to #GiveMimiLines). The song has a unique beat, and unlike with a lot of 'unique' songs in KPop these days it actually is mixed in a really pleasant way rather than a jarring one. The girls sound great while singing and everytime I hear it I get an instant confidence boost as they sing about how no one is quite as amazing as they are. And I'm inclined to agree.

#6 - Chase Me (Dreamcatcher)

 

If you know me, you knew this would be on the list. Dreamcatcher is hands down my favorite rookie group in a long time and I am really upset that they're getting next to no attention in Korea. Chase Me is a powerful song with great vocals and an A+ dance and back track and I fail to understand why people don't love them as much as I do. I will also say that unlike with every other group on here, I really like and am invested in Dreamcatcher's concept, which as I said in the intro I usually give no craps about. But I am seriously anticipating the final part of their current trilogy to see how many of my predictions are right.

#5 - Mysterious (Hello Venus)

 

The whistling in this song is the best whistling in any song and I will fight you on this. Not really, it's all opinions, but seriously listen to the whistles. This song is fun and sultry and catchy and bright all balled up into one fabulous song and performed by an amazing group. This song makes me feel like getting up to mischief and sneaking around like James Bond and I love it. No other song has a vibe quite like Mysterious does for me, and I will be whistling this to my grave.

#4 - Loona. Just, everything, Loona

 

I am cheating so hard here, but I'm including three songs in this slot. Starting with Vivi's Everyday I Love You in April, Kim Lip's Eclipse in May, and then Singing in the Rain from JinSoul just a few days ago, Loona has been slaying the predebut this year *casually nudges Yeojin to the side*. All three of these songs are so different and yet I love every single one of them. Vivi's solo makes me want to dance around like a smitten school girl, Kim Lip has me attempting to be sultry, and JinSoul's got me singing in the rain. I am seriously so excited for everyone to be revealed and Loona to officially debut - BBC is definitely doing things right!

#3 - Good Night (Dreamcatcher)

 

I am just full of unpopular opinions today! And yes, I like Good Night better than Chase Me. Not by much, but I do. This song was an excellent follow up to Chase Me, and added more of a classic rock sound to their previous JRock vibe which I love. Also the fact this song inspired an entire story probably helped it out in snagging third place. In all seriousness though, of every song on here, musically speaking this one is my favorite. From the vocals to the instrumentals everthing flowed and ebbed absolutely perfectly and if it wasn't for sentiment this would easily be the best song released this year. That said, I'm a sentimental and so it's stuck in third.

#2 - Lonely (Sistar)

 

I'M NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING. SHUT UP. Ugh. Sistar. The second biggest heartbreak of the year in KPop. Lonely is a song that touches me right in my nostalgia and I tear up every time I hear it. It's not the most elaborate or even interesting song but it will forever be an incredibly special one to me and thousands of other Star1s as we wish our queens success in the future. This song was a final goodbye, chosen by the group for the fans and I'M NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING. Shut up ;;

Honorable Mentions

 

There are a few songs I really love that didn't quite get a place on this list. Whether due to odd dances, lack of catchiness, just not being quite as good, or me foregtting they existed until I'd finished making the list, these guys barely missed the cut and I do really like all of them. Just not as much as the ones that did make the cut.

In no particular order:

Wonderful Love - Momoland
Flower (You) - VAV
Shangri-La - VIXX
Nalari - S.E.T
What’s My Name - T-Ara
Coloring Book - Oh My Girl
Freedom - Rubber Soul
Kiss on the Lips - Melody Day
An Obvious Melo - Gavy NJ
Yesterday - Block B
Happy - WJSN
Archangels of the Sephiroth - Stellar
Hwi Hwi - LABOUM
Fingertip - GFRIEND
Fine - Taeyeon
Rollin' - Brave Girls

#1 - Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo (Berry Good)

 

Okay, so you're probably screaming at me through the screen. "What do you mean Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo is number one? That MV looked like is was made in iMovie! The dance is ridiculous! The stage outfits are stupid!" To which I say hush you this song is great. It's upbeat and fun and the message is absolutely fantastic and only makes me love it more. This is a song about struggling to find who you are through the noise of everyone else telling you who you should be. It's about trusting yourself and loving yourself and standing up against those who would tell you that you can't do something. It's about understanding that things don't come all at once, and that hard work doesn't mean immediate success. This is a song about life and how you shouldn't let failure stop you from working towards becoming your best self. Mix that with a catchy tune and some of the best group vocals among the newest generation, and this song is easily my number one of the year so far.